Can opener having punching and venting means



Aug. 2, 1966 J. WALTER, JR 3,

CAN OPENER HAVING PUNCHING AND VENTING MEANS Filed July 5, 19M 2 SheetsSheet l INVENTOR. JOHN WALTER, JR.

BY mm, mm, (84m (BMW aflttg ls.

Aug. 2, 1966 .J. WALTER, JR

CAN OPENER HAVING PUNCHING AND VENTING MEANS Filed July 5, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JOHN WALTER JR.

BY Wm, fia/z/w, 064W 6 United States Patent 3,263,326 CAN OPENER HAVENG lUNCI-HNG AND VENTING MEANS John Walter, Jr., Evergreen Park, llL, assignor to Rock- OlaManufacturing Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Filed July 3, 1964, Ser. No. 380,179 5 Claims. (or. 30-61 This invention relates generally to the art of food handling and more particularly is directed to improved means for opening sealed food containers, particularly metal cans, in a safe and an eflicient manner.

By way of example, this invention is particularly useful in association with automatic food vending machinery of the type commonly referred to as can vendors which are adapted to automatically distribute canned goods to the purchaser in response to the deposit of coins in a known and familiar fashion. When merchandising canned products by vending machines, it is often desirable to provide means for opening the sealed cans or containers at or near the dispensing location so as to permit the customer to have convenient access to the contents of the sealed container. This is particularly so when vending canned drinks, especially soft drinks of the carbonated varieties. While it is possible to provide throwaway can openers for this purpose or some type of port able can opener in association with a vending machine for the customers use, the obvious inability to maintain a proper supply of the throw-away openers or to maintain adequate security of portable can openers has directed the vending industry toward the provision of container opening means amxed or anchored to the vending machine, as a fixture. One such known container opening means is disclosed in United States Patent No. 2,958,- 942 issued November 8, 1960, and the present invention is directed generally to improvements in the type or class of opening means disclosed in that patent.

When opening canned drinks or beverages, especially carbonated drinks, it is common to experience a rather violent discharge of the carbonating gasses and liquid upon initially piercing or disrupting the sealed integrity of the container. Such an occurrence is especially prevalent if for one reason or another the canned carbonated drink is warm or has been violently handled to abnor mally release a substantial gas atmosphere from the liquid within the container. Immediately upon piercing or opening such a can the gaseous atmosphere seeks to rapidly expand and escape carrying with it particles of the cans liquid contents and undesirably spraying such liquid into the atmosphere about the container. Many times the release of the gas and liquid from such a container is sufliciently violent to cause persons, especially the one opening the can and those in the near vicinity, to be sprayed and wetted by liquid, thereby damaging or soiling his person and wearing apparel. It is obvious that in commercially vending canned beverages with automatic Vending machines, the provision of any type of can or container opening means which would, even infre quently, subject the customer to possible damage and soiling of his clothing or the wetting of parts of his body with liquid upon opening the can must be studiously avoided.

To applicants best knowledge, the vending industry heretofore has failed to find a fully satisfactory solution to the above outlined problem, as witness the aforesaid Patent No. 2,958,942. It may be said, with like import, that the same is generally true without reference to the vending industry since it is all too common for housewives and others to encounter an undesirable explosive discharge of liquids and gasses upon opening canned 3,263,326 Patented August 2, i966 products, such as carbonated drinks or similar beverages containing effervescing gasses and pressurized atmospheres. The successful solution of the above outlined problem is provided by the present invention; and while the description to follow is principally related to improved container opening means of this invention as applied to and employed in and with vending machines, it is to be understood that the principles, concepts and teachings involved herein find equal application and usefulness in other fields of use.

In brief, the improved container opening means of this invention comprises a means for locating a can or container to be opened in specified relation to one or more reciprocally movable container piercing means having associated manual or power activated drive means for ramming the piercing means through one wall of the container, thereby disrupting the sealed integrity and providing one or more openings therein for release of the cans contents. Uniquely, at least one of the can piercing means, if there be more than one employed, is fashioned and constructed to provide a gas and liquid venting pas sageway or chamber means whereby when the piercing means enters or disrupts the cans wall engaged thereby, the pressurized gaseous atmosphere Within the can will be conducted and vented through said passageway to a remote chamber or area which is safely separated from the user by suitable barrier means. Such a release of the gasses into the remote area successfully removes and directs any liquid entrained by the gasses away, from and about the container or can and permits its safe dispersal and release in a manner harmless to and protective of the operators clothing and person. Suitable means are also provided for containing or storing any liquid discharged with the gasses after such exits from the passageway of the can piercing means. In the case of a vending machine, this last named means may comprise, for example, an open bucket or liquid trap suitably located for receiving any such released or discharged liquids. Additionally, since it is important to maintain sanitary conditions, particularly in automatic commercial vending machines, suitable heater means are associated with the can piercing means for maintaining the blade or can piercing element thereof at sterilizing temperatures, suificient to destroy harmful bacteria and the like.

The main object of this invention is to provide a new and improved means for opening sealed food containers.

Another important object of this invention is to pro vide new and improved means as aforesaid which is particularly adapted for opening containers having a pressurized internal atmosphere whereby the release of such pressurized atmosphere upon disruption of the container is safely regulated and controlled with such gaseous atmosphere and any liquid or food particles entrained therewith being conducted to a locality safely separated from the operator.

Still another important object of this invention is to provide new and improved means for opening containers for carbonated beverages and similar potable liquids or drinks, which includes improved means for directing any gasses and liquids escaping from the container upon disruption of its seal to a remote receptacle safely separated from the operator.

Still another important object of this invention is to provide a new and improved can or container opening means for use on and in association with automatic can vending machines.

Having thus described the present invention and having set forth its principal features and objectives, the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out its concepts and for teaching those familiar with the art how to practice this invention will now be set forth in asso- -39 ciation with a preferred embodiment thereof described in the following writings and shown in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a partial perspective view illustrating the container opening means of this invention associated with an automatic vending machine;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along vantage line 22 of FIGURE 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows thereon;

FIGURE 3 is a rear elevational view of the opening means illustrated in FIGURE 1 with parts thereof shown in section;

FIGURE 4 is the top plan view of a container, showing the upper wall thereof apertured by the opening means of this invention; and

FIGURE 5 is a partial rear perspective view of the opening means shown in FIGURES 2 and 3 and illustrating a modified barrier means associated therewith.

Turning now to the drawings, it will be recognized from FIGURES 1 through 3 in particular, that the improved container opening means of this invention comprises a container receptacle and locating means comprising a unitary housing adapted to be mounted and supported behind a front panel 11 of a vending machine cabinet so as to provide a recessed chamber or a receptacle for a sealed container or can indicated generally by numeral 12, to be opened. It will be noted that the container 12 is positioned by the receptacle 10 in a generally upright position beneath container piercing means comprising, in the particular embodiment illustrated, a vent piercing element 13 and a cutting punch 14 according to this invention. Suitable hand operable and rotatably movable handle means 15 are provided forwardly of the cabinet panel 11 for selectively operating the container piercing means as will appear more fully hereinafter. Essentially in this respect rotational operation of the handle means serves to substantially vertically reciprocate the two elements 13 and 14 for piercing openings in the upper wall 16 of the container 12. While a manually operated means 15 is shown, it is fully contemplated that power driven means may be used as well.

With particular reference to FIGURES 1 and 2, it will be seen that the container receptacle and locating housing 10 includes a substantially horizontal bottom wall 20 which is adapted to undersupport the container or can 12 and maintain the same in generally upright position. Support wall 20 is integrally formed with a rear wall having a semicylindrical portion 21, which conforms generally to the cylindrical configuration of the container 12 and also serves as a locating means for properly disposing the container in proper position for the opening operation, centrally beneath the pirecing elements 13 and 14.

It will further be noted that the curvilinear rear wall portion 21 is split horizontally a suitable distance above bottom wall 20 to provide inwardly and outwardly turned and slightly spaced lip portions 22 and 23 which afford a support ledge receptive of the bottom rim or lip of a container, as indicated at 24, to permit positioning and locating shorter cans in the receptacle 10 whereby the same may be opened by the piercing means of this invention. In this respect it will be appreciated and understood that one or more such slotted openings may be formed in the rear wall portion 21 of the housing 10 to accommodate various height cans as desired.

In addition to the bottom wall 20 and the semicylindrical rear wall portion 21, the container recepetacle 10 also includes integrally related, substantially parallel spaced sidewall portions 25, 25', and an upper wall portion 26 having suitable openings 27 and 28 for the reception and passage of the two piercing elements 13 and 14 respectively. Each of the bottom, top and two sidewalls of the container receptacle housing 10 is flanged outwardly at its forward end to provide a bordering peripheral flange portion 30 having lateral mounting wing por- 4 tions 31, 31 adjacent the upper lateral margins of housing 11) (see FIG. 3). Thus housing 10 may be affixed to the rearward face of the cabinet panel 11 as by attachment bolts 32, and mounting pins or rivets 33, 33 which are receptive in mounting slots 34, 34 in a known manner.

As previously mentioned, the piercing means of this invention may comprise one or more piercing elements capable of making openings in one wall of the container. In the particular embodiment shown, two elements 13 and 14 are preferred; however, the venting element 13 is optional, while the punch 14 of this invention is essential to carrying out its primary features. As illustrated in FIG. 2, punch 14 is constructed as a cylindrical member having a hollow interior comprising a gas vent and liquid passageway means, indicated generally at 40. As best shown in FIG. 2, punch element 14 has an angularly cut lower end to provide a sharp cutting point 41 while the passageway means 40 extends coaxially inward of and communicates openly with the lower end of the element 14 and extends partially along the length thereof to communicate with the transverse outlet opening and passageway 42 which importantly faces rearwardly and is located totally above the upper wall 26 of the housing 10, for reasons which will appear presently. As shown, the vent piercing element 13 may constitute a substantially cylindrical member having a conical lower tip or probe end portion 44, which is located at a higher elevation than the cutting point 41 of the punch element 40, so that the latter will first contact and disrupt wall 16 of the container. The vent piercing element 13 makes a vent opening 45 adjacent the front edge of the container wall 16 as the same is normally disposed in the container receptacle 10. By way of contrast the cutting punch 14 effects a much larger opening 46 (see FIG. 4) which is disposed generally diametrically opposite vent opening 45 and closely adjacent the rearward side or the innermost edge of the carns upper wall 16 in operation.

Both of the piercing elements 13 and 14 are supported in a vertical depending position from an overhead metal support and heating block which is substantially a solid of rectangular shape located above the upper wall 26 of housing 10 and behind the front panel 11 of the cabinet. A U-shaped keeper 51 passes through suitable spaced openings formed through the block and corresponding openings formed in the upper shank ends of the two piercing elements 13 and 14 for locking the latter elements in operating position with the heating block 50. In this respect it will be seen particularly from FIG- URE 2 that the cutting punch 14 is formed so that an opening therein, receptive of one tine portion 52 of the keeper element 51, is off center from the longitudinal axis of the punch element to insure proper positioning of the punch 14 so that the discharge outlet 42 thereof faces to the rear, as shown in FIGURE 2. It is also to be noted that the cutting punch 14 is provided with a frustoconical splash cap 54 located near its upper end and fixed thereto so as to be disposed slightly above the outlet opening 42 and immediately adjacent and beneath the heating and support block 50.

As best shown in FIGURES 2, 3 and 5 of the drawings, the heating block 50 is affixed to and beneath a rectangular electrical housing or box by means of several mounting screws 61 which extend through a lower cover wall 62 for the box 60 and thread into tapped openings formed in the block 50 (see FIG. 3). As will be especially recognized from FIGURE 2 of the drawing, the box 60 is hollow and comprises a protective housing for thermostatic switch means 65 which is connected to a suitable source of electrical energy (not shown) via supply conductor 66 and is electrically associated with a heater element 67, mounted in a cylindrical opening formed therefor in the mounting block 50. Thus block 50 may be maintained at desired temperatures to effect sterilization of the two piercing elements 13 and 14 of the container piercing means, according to this invention.

Extending from the upper wall 68 of the protective electrical housing 60 is projecting arm 69 having an ear 70 at its extreme upper end for connection with one end of a return spring means 71. The other end of spring 71 is anchored to a pin means 72 extending inwardly and affixed to the front panel 11 of the vending machine. Arm 69 is also formed with an opening 73 receptive of one end of a stub shaft or crank pin 74 having rotatable connection with a crank link 75, as shown in FIGURE 2. The crank 75 is disposed or located between the arm 69 and the panel 11 of the vending machine and is fixed to an operating shaft '76 at its opposite end. Shaft 76 extends through suitable bearing means 77 affixed to the supporting panel 11 and. is rigidly connected to the operating handle 15. With this arrangement it will be understood that rotational movement of the operating handle either clockwise or counterclockwise serves to rotate shaft 76 to effect cranking of the crank link 75 and thus effectuate reciprocating action of the housing 60, attached block eans 50 and the depending container piercing elements 13 and 14. It will be appreciated, of course, that when the container piercing means, elements 13 and 14 in this illustrated embodiment, move downwardly from their full line to their dotted line positions as shown in FIGURE 2, effective penetration and disruption of the upper wall 16 of the container or can 12 is brought about, to accomplish the desired opening of a container placed within the receptacle 10. After such a piercing operation, release of the handle means 15 or continued rotation thereof in either direction as shown in FIGURE 1 will serve to return the piercing elements 13 and 14 to their upper or full line positions therefor as illustrated in FIGURE 2, thus releasing the container 12 for removal from receptacle 1%. In this respect the return spring 71 assists materially in returning the piercing elements to their upper positions.

It will be recalled that one of the principal objectives of this invention is to provide an improved means for effectively venting and directing the gaseous atmospheres and any liquids entrained in the gasses from the interior of the container 12 to a position harmless to the operator of the opening means of this invention. To that end the provision of the liquid and gas passageway means 49 of the hollow punch element 14 serves to effectively conduct any pressurized atmosphere and liquid moved therewith upwardly through the interior of the punch 14, outwardly through the outlet or exit opening 42 thereof to release the same rearwardly of the back wall of the container receptacle it This is best shown in FIGURE 2 of the drawings. As therein illustrated, when the punch element 14 is lowered to its position for penetrating the upper wall 16 of the container or can 12, it is materially in advance of the vent piercing element 13 and thus serves to effectuate its opening 46 in the can before vent opening 45 is formed. Concurrently the splash cap 54 moves downwardly with punch 14 to a position immediately adjacent the upper wall 26 for the receptacle 10. As the gaseous atmosphere and liquids are released from the can they discharge rapidly through passageway means 40, to hit the splash cap 54 which serves to effectively direct the same downwardly and behind the rear wall portion 21 of the container receptacle 10, according to the arrows labeled D in FIGURE 2. In order to prevent such gaseous and liquid material discharging from the exit end 42 of the passageway 46 from spraying the interior of the vending machine, a suitable barrier means or splash guard, indicated generally by numeral 80 in FIGURE 2 is provided. Barrier means 80 cooperates with the rearward wall 21 of the receptacle housing to form an open passageway 81 for freely conducting any liquid exiting from opening 42 downwardly behind the receptacle housing 19 to a below-disposed drip bucket 82, which is supported on a suitable bracket 83 affixed to the inside of the panel 11.

It will be appreciated from an examination of FIG- URE 2 that the barrier means therein illustrated is a fixed shield which substantially surrounds the housing 10 and is aflixed in spaced relation thereto by mounting portions and flanges (not shown) but connectable to the mounting bolts 32 and pin means 33 employed for fixing the housing 10 to the inside of the front panel wall 11 of the vending machine. Further it will be regarded that the barrier wall 80 is of sufiicient vertical extent to reach above the upper limits of the mounting block means 50 when the latter is in its raised position as illustrated in FIGURE 2, and that the lower end of the barrier means 80 is formed with an open funnel or hopper portion 84 comprising inwardly directed walls for channeling the dripping liquids downwardly into the below disposed drip bucket 82. Thus the barrier wall or means 80, in conjunction with the splash cap 54 and the passageway means 40 and 81 serve to effectively vent the gaseous atmospheres from the container 12 and direct any liquids moving with such gaseous atmosphere away from the container, behind the rear wall of the container receptacle 10 and into a safe and harmless location for storage in the drip bucket 82.

As a modification of the barrier means 80 above described, a movable splash guard and barrier means indicated generally at in FIGURE 5 may be utilized. As shown, such movable barrier means 90 constitutes a substantially U-shapecl metal member adapted to be attached to the rearward end 91 of the heater block 50 as by screw fastener means 92 or the like. Thus barrier means 90 rides up and down with the heater block according to the latters reciprocating movements.

More specifically, barrier means 90 includes a central offset platform portion 93 which is fitted over the one end 91 of the heater block 50 to partially surround the latter. Such central portion 93 is flanked by extending Wing portions 94, 94 adapted to partially surround the upper rearward portions of the container receptacle 10 and move relative to the latter while maintaining a substantially spaced parallel relation with the rear and side walls 21 and 25, 25' thereof when the piercing elements 13 and 14 are driven to effectuate opening of the container located in the housing 10.

As with the barrier means 80, the movable means barrier means 90 serves to effectively direct any liquids ensuing from the exit opening 42 of the passageway means 40 downwardly and into the open upper end of the drip bucket 82.

From the foregoing it is believed that those familiar with the art will readily understand and appreciate the novel concepts and features of the present invention which mark the same as an improved advancement over prior known devices for opening containers. This invention provides an effective means for opening a container or vessel having a pressurized atmosphere Without subjecting the user of the opening means of this invention to possible wetting or damaging of his person and clothing when the seal of such a container is disrupted. It is further to be regarded that in operation the improved piercing element of this invention which includes a central gas and liquid venting passageway means serves to direct any entrained liquid or other particles of the containers contents safely away from the operator. Such piercing means in conjunction with the means for directing the released contents to a safe location and receptacle as described, adequately and effectively solved the heretofore vexatious problem as above described and particularly prevalent in the vending and opening of canned carbonated beverages.

It is also to be understood and recognized that while the present invention has hereinabove been described in association with a particular preferred embodiment and related to its use in an automatic vending machine, numerous changes, modifications and substitutions of equivalent may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. Thus it is intended that the present invention be unlimited by the foregoing described embodiment except as may appear in the following appended claims.

I claim:

1. Improved container opening means comprising: a receptacle having an open side and means interiorly thereof fo'r positioning a container to be opened therewithin, a container piercing means movable through an upper Wall of and into the interior of said receptacle for engaging one wall of a container placed therein and operative for effecting an aperture through said one wall; operationally reversible means selectively operable in either direction of operation thereof for periodically reciprocating said container piercing means into and out of the interior of said receptacle, means operatively associated with said container piercing means for venting and conveying pressurized atmosphere within the container and liquid materials entrained therein through said upper wall of said receptacle and adapted to discharge the same outwardly of said receptacle, means including barrier means cooperative with the exterior of said receptacle for deflecting gaseous and liquid materials vented and discharged from said container to a position remote of said receptacle, and means for receiving and storing liquid materials in said remote position.

2. An improved container opening means comprising, a container receptacle open on one side and having walls defining an enclosure into which a container to be opened may be inserted, and means for selectively locating different size containers in position to be opened within said enclosure; a plurality of container piercing elements mounted outwardly of the upper wall of said receptacle and extending therethrough and adapted when moved downwardly to engage and pierce a top wall of a said container positioned for opening in said enclosure thereby to effectuate a plurality of openings therethrough; operationally reversible means actively operable in either direction of operation therefor to selectively reciprocate said container piercing elements toward and away from a said container in said enclosure, at least one of said container piercing elements being formed, positioned and adapted to engage said top wall of a said container positioned for opening in advance of the remaining said piercing elements and said one element being formed with an internal passageway means extending partially along the length thereof and communicating openingly at its lower end with the lower end of said one element, said passageway means having a discharge outlet adjacent its upper end located outwardly of the said upper wall of said receptacle; deflector means mounted on said one piercing element adjacent said discharge outlet for movement therewith and operative to deflect materials exiting from said outlet and direct the same away from said receptacle, and barrier means mounted contiguous to said receptacle and deflector means in spaced relation with the exterior walls of said receptacle to define therewith a passageway receptive of materials, particularly gasses and liquid particles, discharged from the said outlet and deflected thereinto by said deflector means whereby a container having a pressurized contents may be opened and the pressurized contents thereof vented exteriorly of said receptacle and enclosure thereof.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 6 wherein said barrier means is fixed about the exterior of said receptacle and in spaced relationship therewith and includes funnel means at the lower end thereof beneath said receptacle for collecting liquid particles in said passageway.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 2 including heater means associated with said container piercing elements for maintaining the same at sterilizing temperatures.

5. The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said barrier means is movable with said container piercing elements and is driven therewith by the means for reciprocating said elements.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,709,514 4/1929 Bassett et al. 306.1 X 2,520,380 9/1950 Wegrnan 222-108 2,694,250 11/1954 Wright et al 3010 X 2,703,926 3/1955 Ragan 306.1 2,958,942 11/1960 Fazekas 306.1 3,014,389 12/1961 OHara 8190.5 3,066,410 12/1962 Craven 306.1 3,081,538 3/1963 Ford 306.l

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

EDWARD C. ALLEN, Examiner.

' G. WEIDENFELD, Assistant Examnier. 

1. IMPROVED CONTAINER OPENING MEANS COMPRISING: A RECEPTACLE HAVING AN OPEN SIDE AND MEANS INTERIORLY THEREOF FOR POSITIONING AN CONTAINER TO BE OPENED THEREWITHIN, A CONTAINER PIERCING MEANS MOVABLE THROUGH AN UPPER WALL OF SAID INTO THE INTERIOR OF SAID RECEPTACLE FOR ENGAGING ONE WALL OF A CONTAINER PLACED THEREIN AND OPERATIVE FOR EFFECTING AN APERTURE THROUGH SAID ONE WALL; OPERATIONALLY REVERSIBLE MEANS SELECTIVELY OPERABLE IN EITHER DIRECTION OF OPERATION THEREOF FOR PERIODICALLY RECIPROCATING SAID CONTAINER PIERCING MEANS INTO AND OUT OF THE INTERIOR OF SAID RECEPTACLE, MEANS OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID CONTAINER PIERCING MEANS FOR VENTING AND CONVEYING PRESSURIZED ATMOSPHERE WITHIN THE CONTAINER AND LIQUID MATERIALS ENTRAINED THEREIN THROUGH SAID UPPER WALL OF SAID RECEPTACLE AND ADAPTED TO DISCHARGE THE SAME OUTWARDLY OF SAID RECEPTACLE, MEANS INCLUDING BARRIER MEANS COOPERATIVE WITH THE EXTERIOR OF SAID RECEPTACLE FOR DEFLECTING GASEOUS AND LIQUID MATERIALS VENTED AND DISCHARGED FROM SAID CONTAINER TO A POSITION REMOTE OF SAID RECEPTACLE, AND MEANS FOR RECEIVING AND STORING LIQUID. 